18 03 06 Timing is everything
Thank you for all the letters of support since I announced my news. It's hard to believe that my surgery is in a few days!
Two weeks ago, I actually got an email from my surgeon alerting to me to a
recall. I came thisclose to having an implant that has a higher chance of failure. Not exactly something you want to hear so soon before surgery! The company is pulling all units made with parts from one of their suppliers and replacing them with units made by the better supplier (one year cumulative survival rate of 97.5% vs. greater than 99.5%). Aaron and I have since found out more about the voluntary recall and are choosing to proceed with this implant as planned. I'm actually getting the new variation of a tried and true implant that's slowly being rolled out: the Helix. The new difference is the shape of the array; it's pre-curled so that it has a better potential to hug the middle of the cochlea where the nerve fibers sit.
There are three main CI manufacturers, and deciding which one to use is an overwhelming task. Right now, they're pretty much all the same in terms of performance. Aaron was very helpful in utilizing his tech-know-how and ability to parse scientific documents; he helped me wade through all the information I'd accumulated and was able to objectively recommend which company to go with. One company uses disposable batteries, which are appealing, compared to ones that have to be recharged and replaced on a much-too regular basis, but we tried not to look at surface features like those that can potentially be changed. Rather, we focused on the part that will be in my head. And that’s what it boiled down to: Advanced Bionics' technology is more advanced and has more potential in the long-run. It's an individual choice. I wouldn't presume to judge someone else's decision, and expect the same courtesy to be extended to me.
If all of this sounds well and good, but you're shaking your head in puzzlement because you don't know exactly what a CI is, check out this link (it'll explain it far better than I can!):
How Implants Work.
And here's a web site that has a simulation of what CI processed speech sounds like as compared to regular sound, varied by channels [Disclaimer: I have no idea how accurate this is, nor do I understand how anyone can truly know what it sounds like to us!]:
CI Simulation (Note, I’ll be getting 16 channels, with a boost to 120 in the near future).
The thing is, my hearing aids help me so much that on a regular basis, I hear something new. The other day, I was able to figure out what song was playing on the kids' CD. Another time, I heard something Samara said when I wasn't looking, and confirmed with Aaron that I’d heard correctly. Every time something like this happens, I rhetorically ask, “Who says I need a CI?” Aaron keeps reminding me that it'll give me more clarity. When Aaron and I were first dating I described my hearing as being a glass that's half full with dirty water. With an implant, the water will be clearer, and will fill the glass more. However, it won’t be a full cup of Evian.
Yesterday, I took my left HA out so I could get to an itch. That was nothing new. But as I put the earmold back in, I realized that in a few days, I'll no longer be wearing one in that ear. That'll be the first time in almost 33 years. I imagine it'll take some getting used to!
Aaron will post to the blog after my surgery to say how it went. If I'm up for it, I'll do it myself.
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